IMO, looking at cheaper replacements for players to be sold! Think there's a good chance Travis is off if we are looking at Whiteman - would net Rovers a couple of £million or so.

So true. Passed Tony in the car a couple of times recently whilst he's been out walking - now walking with the aid of a stick and a carer (I assume). It's so very sad.

Likely to be the result of the 'famed European scouting structure' @Chaddyrovers keeps banging the drum about. Might as well sack the lot and sit in an office at Ewood thumbing through the Argos catalogue of European footballers who are cheap and cheerful!

We all see things differently. To me, Vale has that spark and in two years time will be at least two leagues higher than Butterworth.

I like seeing Chapman getting into the box - he frightens defenders with his trickery and he doesn't need too much space to work in, seen him put defenders on their arse and we haven't too many capable of that! Needs to be let off the leash, given a licence to thrill and win football matches for us - he has the talent and capability. Mowbray needs to realise not one size fits all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Been saying this for ages. IMO, it's as though Mowbray doesn't want the lad to succeed and is even denying him the chance to. I just think there is an amazing talent in there and with good man management, we would have a real player, a real creative force, on our hands.

Always taken an interest in those teams below 1st team level whether matches played at Brockhall, Leigh, Leyland or even Ewood. My then young kids used to love going down to Brockhall to watch the Academy stuff and I remember one of my lads being particularly taken by Ben Burgess (a beast of a young striker then) who came over and did autographs etc. Couldn't tell you how many times I've seen Butterworth but first saw him in our U18's not too long after he'd joined us from United. Agree, injuries haven't helped but the lad's almost 21 now and in my book, he should have broken through that first team door by now if he was going to become a 'big player' for us.

I hope you are right but he hasn't shown me anywhere near enough for me to think he might be a 'real player' for us. I compare him to Vale and I think Vale is head and shoulders above Butterworth. How many times do you need to see a player? An old friend of my dad's was a scout for a Division 1 (now PL) club, scouting senior players and he reckoned he knew within 45 minutes if a player had anything about him or he was wasting his time and the player could be crossed off his list - it was fascinating to hear his observations, particularly if I was watching football with him.

Carter is not 'only a boy' - he is 21 years of age this year. As I have said before, ability is relative to the level you play at. IMO, if Carter was going to be a player for us at Championship level, at his age, he should already have broken through or shown much more composure and dominance in his two games for us. Sadly, I think he is another Academy product who will just drift into obscurity or earn a crust at Division 2 or, at best, Division 1 level. You watch these lads at levels below first team and and I think it's pretty obvious who has got something about them and has a chance to become a real player for us and who hasn't. IMO, Jack Vale looks like he could be the real thing but others like Butterworth, Davenport, Fisher, Grayson, Magloire, Mols, Wharton etc you can forget.

We know how good a coach Hughton is. Proven track record, far better than Mowbray's. I bet you, however much money you want to bet, not only will they finish higher than Rovers next season but they will finish in top 6. A club with massive potential.

Number of points here. Firstly, I do not think it is inconceivable that Venky's have sidelined Waggott and have someone working on their behalf to see if they can find a replacement for Mowbray. The silence is deafening and it would explain a lot - perhaps their confidence in Waggott and Mowbray has gone. Who that someone may be or who they are looking at is another factor! Secondly, we might have had half a dozen or so Academy / Development players on 'the grass' at some point over the last couple of games but like you, I would question if they really are good enough. Most of them are 20 going on 21 and I think a couple or so are even older. You look back over the years and the 'big players' broke through in their teens Butch Wilkins captained Chelsea at 17, Rooney, Mbappe, Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice and more recently Reece James at Chelsea. And before anyone throws their toys out of their pram, let me make it clear, ability is relative to the level you are at. I do not think for one moment our younger players should be playing in Champions League or World cup Finals but at their age, if they were good enough, they should have battered down the first team door and become regulars at Championship Level. I think Alexander-Arnold and Rice have already clocked up 100 first team appearances or so at just 21 years of age. Lenihan is no longer a youngster and at 26, I think he's found his level. Travis is a decent Championship player at the moment with room to go but the lad is almost 23 and still nowhere near 100 appearances, Nyambe is 22 and as far as I'm concerned, his development is being held back by Mowbray's mismanagement. Rankin-Costello I think has just turned 21 and his first team appearances are still in single figures - could become a decent Championship player but no more, IMO. Carter 20 is no Phil Jones and doesn't look good enough to be a first team regular Buckley 20 is, IMO, as you say, ineffective and too weak Have seen the rest of our younger at their respective levels and, IMO, there is only one who really excites me and who looks like he may have some star quality and that's Jack Vale. Like I've posted before, our Academy is NOT producing the 'big players' for us - the David Dunns, Damien Duffs and the Phil Jones's. I think the rest, in the main, are much of a muchness ability wise - average. IMO, it needs looking at.

It's a bit more than slow build and evolution! IMO, lays bare just how much Mowbray has mismanaged the transfer windows.

IMO, he spouts so much sh1te. I don't think he understands the game.

Last night was very interesting. From bits I saw, Mowbray, IMO, looked very disinterested. Was Venus there - someone mentioned they didn't see him? The normally statuesque Lowe seemed, IMO, to throw a wobbler at the end. No Mowbray comments that I can see in the LT. You can but hope that this is the end for Mowbray, Venus, Lowe and Benson.

IMO, a season of despair - devoid of hope. Mowbray just turns me cold. IMO, just spouts sh1te and soundbites. The 'happy clappers' might be happy tonight but I'm just p1ssed off with Mowbray's mind numbing Rovers.

John Barton filled the goal! Little room for the ball to pass!

Absolutely. Think Fred Else was Yashin though in comparison!

IMO, he just spouts so much sh1te - it's embarrassing. I don't think he understands the game at all. At best, IMO, a 'yes man'.

Spot on. Mowbray's article in LT was, IMO, feckin disgraceful. I think he's frightened of playing Chapman because he knows what he'll do if given a chance but he simply doesn't like the guy.

Think Yardley is a complete tosser. Full stop.

But we extended contracts for Hart and Smallwood - IMO, utter incompetent madness if that's why the reason for Hilton's exclusion.